Drilling apparatus



` Patented Apr. 12, 19,38l

A' UNITED lSTAT Es PATENT OFFICE 14 claims.

rIhis invention relates to a drilling apparatus and hasA particular relation to that type of apparatus wherein the main drill is adaptable for use with a core barrel when it is desired to take a core, the present invention, however, embodying the type of main drill above referred to in combination with a core disintegrator, for disintegrating the core during drilling operations when a core or sample of a formation being penetrated is not desired. i e

An object of the invention yis to provide a drill stem and drill whereby the bore may be formed, said drill having a central bore for the inlet of a core, with a core disintegrator adapted to beloweredintothe drilling apparatus and seated in the main drill whereby the core formed by the drill may be destroyed.

It is another objectl of the invention to provide in the combination of drill and core disintegrator a. construction whereby the cuttings formed while destroying the core may be washed out by the Viushing fluidy passing downwardly through the flushing channels of the drill.

It is another object of the invention to provide drilling apparatus ofthe character abovereferred to lembodying a barrel, which may be lowered through or withdrawn from the drill stem, said barrel having cutters therein, preferably, though not necessarily, of the disc type, located within the barrel for destroying the core as it is formed and arranged at any selected elevation in the barrel, either adjacent the lower end of the barrel or at some other selected elevation.

The invention also embodies means for locking the barrel to rotate with the main drill.

It is another object of the invention to provide a novel method of destroying and removing a core left at the bottom of the bore by the main drill in the process of well drilling.

With the above and other objects in view, the

invention has particular relation to certain novel Figure 3 shows a fragmentary vertical sectional I view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows a fragmentary vertical sectional 55 view taken on the line L-I of Figure 5, land (ci. c55-72) Figure 5 shows a cross sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure- 4.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, wherein like numerals of reference designate the `same parts in each of the figures, the numeral I designates the drill stem which extends to the ground surface and to the lower end of which the drill 2 is attached. This drill may be bular coupling 5, the stem section 6 and the drill I,

collar 1 to the latter of which the drill is at. tached. The pin coupling member 4 has the inwardly thickened outwardly threaded tapering pin 8 which is'screwed into the coupling 5 as shown.

At its lower end the main rdrill 2 has a central bore 9, and opposing cutters Il), I0 are shown as extendedv inwardly and provided with the upwardly facing inside shoulders I I, II.

There is a barrel I2 adapted to be lowered into and withdrawn upwardly through` the drill stem.

barrel whereby the barrel will rotate with the drill. The upper end of the barrel is preferably of conical shape as at Il and has the upstanding stem I5 which terminates in a conical shaped head I6 for a purposev to be hereinafter stated@ The upper end of the barrel also 'has one or more openings as I1 to permit the entrance `oi the -drilling uid which may'pass thence on down through the barrel. v

Within' the barrel are suitable core disintegrators, preferably inthe form of rotatable cutting discs I8,- IB. These discs-are shown more in' detail in Figures 4 and 5. They are mounted on suitable bushings I9, I9 which in turn are mounted on the Vtransverse spindle 20 `whose ends are suitably anchored to the barrel I2. These discs are spaced apart by the spacer 2| mounted on said spindle 20 and are spaced from the barrel by the spacers 22, 23, also mounted on the spindle. It'will be noted from an inspection e of Figure 5, that the discs are mounted at unequal distances from the axis of the barrel I2 so .that

This barrel is preferably cylindrical in shape andv '25 they will not track asthe barrel rotates. They have the marginal edges 25, 26. l

When a core or a sample of the formation is not to be taken the ordinary core barrel or core taking device will be withdrawn and the barrel l2 will be lowered into operative position. It may be dropped into position or may be let down through the drill stem by means of a cable 2l havinga grappling tool 28 on the lower end thereof and engaged with. the head I6. This grappling tool, if used, should be of the ordinary releasing type whereby it may be detached and Withdrawn together with the cable. The barrel I2 should be, preferably, lowered while the drill is elevated on of bottom and upon rotation of a drill the lugs I2a will drop into the notches I3 and thereafter the barrel will rotate with th drill.

As drilling proceeds a core 29 will be formed and will enter the lower end of the barrel. Meanwhile drilling uid will be forced under pressure down through the drill stem in the usual manner and will enter the openings I1 and pass on down throughl the barrel I2, but the pressure of the drilling fluid against the upper end of the barrel will normally be suflicient to hold the barrel in l operative position. When the discs I8 come into contact with the core 29 they will disintegrate the core. The barrel I2 is provided with openings 30 onA each side, opposite the cutters I8, through which the' cuttings of the disintegrated core may be washed by the drilling fluid out of the barrel I2 and said cuttings will pass on out through the channels 3 and will be returned up outside of the drill stem in the usual way.

The discs I8 are believed to be preferable although other type of disintegrators may be -em ployed in their stead if desired, and-they may be located near the lower end of the barrel or at any other selected elevation in the barrel.

When it is desired to take a core the grappling, tool 28 may be lowered by the cable 21 and engaged with the head' I6 and the barrel I2 removed and a conventional core taking apparatus lowered-in its stead into the drilling apparatus for sample taking purposes. l

In some cases the discs I8 or other type of disintegrators used, may be dispensed with, particularlywhen soft formation is being drilled. In 'sucha case the drilling fluid forced, under pressure, through the barrel I2 will come into contact with the core entering the barrel with suflicient violence to wash out and destroy the core, the formation passing through a side opening or openings, such as 30 in the barrel and passing thence on down and o ut through the channels 3 and up through the bore on the outside of the drill stem.

The drawing and description disclose what is now considered to be a preferred form of the in- ,vention by way of illustrationl only while the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. Drilling apparatus comprising a tubular drill stem, a drill on the stem having an inlet for a core, a tubular barrel in the stem in alignment with the inlet, and core disintegrating means in thel barrel. Y 12. Drilling apparatus comprising a tubular drill stein, a drill on the stem having an opening and a, seat, a tubular barrel removably mounted in the Istem with its lowerend on the seat, core disintegrating means inthe barrel arranged to operate against, anddestroy, the core entering the barrel. v V

3. Drilling apparatus comprising a tubular drill stem, a drill on the stem having a central opening, a tubular barrel in the stem in alignment with the opening and having side openings and core disintegrating means in the barrel arranged v opposite the side openings.

4. Drilling apparatus comprising a tubular drill stem, a drill on the stem having a lower end opening, a tubular barrel in the stem arranged to align with said opening, means for interengaging the barrel with the drilling apparatus to rotate therewith and core disintegrating means in the barrel.

5. Drilling apparatus comprising a tubular drill stem, a drill on the lower end of the stern have ing an approximately central lower end opening,.

a tubular barrel in the stem in alignment with said opening, means for interlocking the barrel with the apparatus for simultaneous rotation, said barrel having a side opening and core disintegrating ,means in the barrel.

6. Drilling apparatus comprising a tubular drill stem, having a coupling member incorporated therein, a drill on the lower end of the stem hav'- ing a lower end opening, a tubular barrel tted closely through said coupling member and in alignment with the drill opening, said barrel having an upper end opening above the coupling and core disintegrating means within the barrel.

'7. Drilling apparatus comprising a tubular drill stem, a drillon the stem having a lower end opening and a discharge channel, a tubular barrel in the stem aligned with the lower end opening. core disintegrating means in the barrel, said barrel having a side outlet whereby flushing fluid passing downwardly through the barrel may discharge the disintegrated core through said side opening and through said channel.

8. In well drilling the method which consists Iin `placing the drill uponthe Well bottom, causin placing the drill upon the Well bottom, causing the flight of a. core disintegrator to the drill, operating the drill to form a core and to cause the same to enter the disintegrator and simultaneously operating the disintegrator to destroy the core.

10. In drilling wells by the rotary method, the method of operation including the steps of introducing a core disintegrator intol the upper end of the drill stem and moving it downwardly to operative position at the lower end of the drill stem, operating the drill stem and drill to disintegrate the formation at the bottom of the' well, leaving the central portion of said formation undisturbed by the drill, simultaneously operating the disintegrator to remove said undisturbed formation.

1l. In drilling wells by the rotary method, the

method of operation including the steps of introducing a core disintegrator into the upper end of the drill stem and moving it downwardly to operative position at the lower end of the drill stem, operating the drill stem and drill to diserating the disintegrator to remove said undisa core and having an outlet channel for the drillturbed formation; then removing the disintegrator upwardly through said stem from the well. 12. In drilling wells by the rotary method, the

method of operation including the steps of intro` ducinga core disintegrator into the upper end of the drill stem and moving it downwardly to operating position at the lower end of thel drill stem, voperating the drillstem to disintegrate the formation at the bottom of the well while leaving the central portion of the formation undis'- trbed thereby and simultaneously operating the ldisintegrator to disintegrate the undisturbed formation, meanwhile washing the cuttings ofthe dlsintegrator from the well. l

. 13. Drilling apparatus comprising a tubular drill stem. a. drill on the stem having an inlet f or ing uid, a tubular barrel in the stem in alignl ment with the inlet, said barrel having a side opening through which drilling uid passing downwardly through the barrel may wash out the `5 core entering the barrel. 4 4

- 14. In well drilling the method which consists in placing a drill upon the well bottomgeausing the iiight of a tubular barrel to the drill, operating the drill to form a core and to cause the l0 DEAN THRIFT. 

